Tyrrhenian Coast - Sicily - page 249

GETTING TO THE NEBRODI REGIONAL PARK
The best way to explore the park is by car, as bus services are few and far between.
By Car
The SS116 starts at Capo d'Orlando on the coast and climbs to Floresta (1275m), the highest village in the park,
where you can stop for local olives, cheeses and meats at Alimentari Giuseppe Calabrese on the main square.
From here, the road makes a spectacular descent to Randazzo, with unforgettable views of Mt Etna.
Cutting through the heart of the park is the enchanting SS289, which links Sant'Agata di Militello with Cesarò
in the interior. Along the route is San Fratello, a typical Nebrodi town originally founded by Roger I's third wife,
Adelaide di Monferrato, for her Lombard cousins (hence the strange local dialect).
If you're coming from the Monti Madonie, a pretty highland route into the Nebrodi is the SS120. Starting from
Petralia Sottana, head east through the gorgeous hill towns of Gangi, Sperlinga and Nicosia, then turn north on
the SS117 to Mistretta. The landscape is especially picturesque in springtime, when the high rolling hills are
covered in wildflowers. On clear days, there are good distant views of Mt Etna to the southeast.
By Bus
Interbus ( 0935 2 24 60; www.interbus.it ) operates buses from Messina to Cesarò (€8.90, three hours, one
daily Monday to Saturday), Mistretta (€9.20, 2¼ hours, one daily Monday to Friday) and Randazzo (€6.70, two
hours, one daily Monday to Saturday). It also offers service between the coastal town of Santo Stefano di Camas-
tra and Mistretta (35 minutes, four daily Monday to Friday, two daily on weekends).
TOP OF CHAPTER
San Marco D'Alunzio
POP 2078 / ELEV 550M
This spectacularly situated hilltop town, 9km from the coast, was founded by the Greeks
in the 5th century BC and then occupied by the Romans, who named it Aluntium and built
structures such as the Tempio di Ercole (Temple of Hercules) at the town's entrance. A Nor-
man church, now roofless, was subsequently built on the temple's red marble base.
Southeast of the town is the trekking base, Longi , and southwest is Alcara Li Fusi , a small
village situated beneath the impressive Rocche del Crasto (1315m), a nesting site of the
golden eagle.
Sights & Activities
Virtually all of San Marco d'Alunzio's older buildings and its 22 churches were made us-
ing locally quarried marble. At the top of the hill are the scant remains of the first castle
built by the Normans in Sicily.